Hello beautiful people!
Let’s shoot shit!
In case you still need to hear me explain why setting up your home studio for self-taping is important, I’m sharing with you our self-taping mini-course from the SMFA Essentials program. This is an MP3 and a (dated but detailed) PDF.
Listen up!
Next, download the PDF from that mini-course in which I list up some tech specs and round out the module.
For a more recent version of my self-tape tech list, go over to the SMFA Hot Sheets area (or go directly here for the PDF). And of course, jam with your fellow ninjas here about what they’re using because they’ll always have the latest and greatest (and tech is a moving target).
Because right this second, you are surrounded with people who want you to succeed at this. You have all the support you could ask for. You will get help with your tech glitches. You will be told when something’s not quite working. And when you’re asked to self-tape, you’ll be ready to fire away, zero stress, and at a time when the odds are still really good for those who self-tape to be seen, it’s crazy to not have this skill at the ready.
Do I want it to lead to you creating your own content (Day 43)? Of course. Maybe start with some of the inspo you got in Day 34 or Day 24. Worried you won’t come up with enough stuff to shoot? There are docs in the FILES area of the group stashed with loads of prompts for when you get stuck. Sure your tech is low-end? It’s not. You can master this challenge on your phone’s camera.
Look. If the *best* audition I got for the role of Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine’s grandson in Another Harvest Moon came from a young actor (Cameron Monaghan) who self-taped in his backyard using the camera on a flip phone in 2007, I’m absolutely certain you’ve got tech that will get the job done for your next audition.
Not in showbiz? Cool. You get a pass ONLY if you can assure me that your creative business will not benefit from you *ever* going on camera. I’m talking Zoom interviews, Instagram reels, informational vids about your offerings on your website, curriculum footage, Q&A sessions, an interview with the local news about your amazing business, a sit-down with Oprah, your TED Talk… are you SURE there’s zero reason for your face to ever be on camera? Yeah… I thought so.
Do this. All of you!
Today’s work: Join the 30-day self-tape challenge and commit to shooting every day from now ’til the end of this program. That even gives you a few buffer days. If that commitment is too daunting, pledge to have a start day chosen before we reach Day 100. Come back here and share that gameplan so we can cheer you on. If you’ve already done the self-tape challenge, share what you learned from doing it; share some tips. Lead your ninja community!
In case you need one last push for this, let me just say that as I’m typing up the original version of this page’s content (in March of 2017), not one but two of my private coaching clients are celebrating huge tier-jumps as a result of self-taping their first read. One, shooting a national commercial and the other, testing at network for a series regular role. Both of these situations came about via a self-taped first read. This is for real. You’re cutting yourself off from opportunities every day you don’t get going with this.
I’ll attempt to leave my soapbox on this topic now. 😉 We’ll see how that goes!
’til tomorrow… stay ninja!
